Please feel free to browse this website as a guest. Creating an account removes some ads, allows you to post replies, start new topics and threads, and gives you access to more features including bookmarking, live chat, messaging and notification systems.

Report - Wenvoe underground Train Tunnel, Cardiff, Wales, 11/15

Regular User

I was in the area and felt like going for an explore, so after a bit of research I stumbled across this site. Location was easy to find and so was parking. I was a little under prepared as had not originally planned on going exploring, so can only apologies for the darkness of my photos, luckily my phone light allowed me to make my way through the tunnel.

The tunnel itself is just over a mile in length, fairly wide and mostly brick lined although towards one end the bare walls are exposed. There is one shaft in the centre leading up onto what I presume is a farm. The tunnel is straight and looking down you can see the light from the far end. Water is flowing the full length alongside a large water mains pipe on the side (which I used to walk down the tunnel and saved me from getting wet) Water is also entering in many locations including the walls and roof and this was the only I could hear along my journey apart from my footsteps.

Bit of history:

The Barry Railway Company was born to release the stranglehold of the Taff Vale Railway and Cardiff Docks on the export of South Wales’ coal. Work on it started in 1885 and thanks to their efficiency, by 1910, Barry Docks had overtaken their near neighbour in terms of tonnage shifted.

Within four years, the company had built a substantial rail network including several branches and an 18½-mile main line from Trehafod into the docks. Included in this was a double-track bore of 1,868 yards at Wenvoe which first saw active service in 1889.

Traffic through the tunnel came to a premature close on 31st March 1963 thanks to a fire which destroyed Tynycaeau North signal box. Since then, it has become home to a large water main and extraordinary mineral deposits which adorn the walls.